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The Good Wife Review: Missing the Big Picture

Alicia's mother was back on The Good Wife this week, interfering in her daughter's work and personal lives.

In "A More Perfect Union," Veronica volunteered Alicia to help a newly widowed woman and her co-workers with a work contract problem at a computer company, Blowtorch. During negotiations with opposing counsel, Nancy Crozier, the employees were all fired for not agreeing to the contracts, which turned a Alicia's favor into a full-fledged court case. And it was a case the firm didn't want Alicia to work on in the first place.

Oops!

The usually annoying lawyer, Nancy, wasn't quite as over the top as she has been during previous cases, but her style definitely works on the judges. The Good Wife provides authenticity by using a recurring cast of opposing counsel, which is appreciated even when the lawyers themselves are annoying. As usual, each side tried to outwit the other through both legal and questionable means.

The Blowtorch case itself wasn't all that interesting, but the trouble it caused at the firm added to the overall story. Lockhart/Gardner came out of bankruptcy with a bankroll of money to expand, yet they didn't make good for their employees. That's quite intriguing. The assistants claimed they were being paid 10% below market wages for Chicago. This was just another sign that the firm doesn't get it.

The partners have been looking out for themselves and even more after they got out of the bankruptcy. Just like when they rescinded the Fourth Years' partnership agreements, the partners missed the big picture and instead only looked at their own bank accounts. With no consideration for their employees' happiness, they looked for a quick fix that will cost them the least financially when they made deals with the two ringleaders of the assistants' protest.

When the Fourth Years banded together, the partners gave Alicia a partnership in an attempt to end the mass exodus of Fourth Years. While they believed taking Alicia out of the picture quashed the plan, it only made the other associates more determined to leave. Cary and the others were given time to better prepare for their new firm, while getting commitments from more Lockhart/Gardner clients to leave with them.

The partners' arrogance and short-sighted thinking could bring about the downfall of the firm. The assistants, like the associates, may have lost their leaders, but the complaints still exist and that will hurt company morale and production. Plus, the disregard for their employees could continue to spread causing more departures. The experience of those employees will be difficult to replace, plus the firm will have to pay at least market wages for new employees.

If Cary and the others leave and take the top five clients, what will Lockhart/Gardner have left? The associates will definitely be taking other employees with them as well, including assistants, paralegals, and even perhaps an investigator. In contrast to the assistants, I found it difficult to take Kalinda's side in her complaint. While Robyn is a full-time employee of the firm, Kalinda has chosen to remain independent, plus she recently negotiated a huge pay increase.

Will's offer to Kalinda seemed fair. She could give up her freedom and work exclusively for the firm and in return she would get a higher salary and benefits for that. Kalinda has a choice to make. Does she want to stay at Lockhart/Gardner? Or, go with Cary? At this point, the decision shouldn't be about money, but where she would prefer to work. And, with her, it's difficult to know what she is thinking.

It could very well come down to Alicia. Despite their troubled friendship over the years, Kalinda has a loyalty to Alicia unlike anyone else. If Alicia goes, then I could see Kalinda leaving too. But, Alicia's decision could become even more complicated given her mother's conversation with Will. Though, if Alicia picks Will, Cary's plan to leave could cause a divide between them even if Alicia stays. Secrets are dangerous to relationships.

Though, at this point, Will's not even in contention, since Alicia agreed to renew her marriage vows to Peter. I really don't get Alicia and Peter though. How can they renew their vows when they don't even live together and barely meet outside Peter's campaign bus? He asked her on a date and they have pizza in the bus? That's not really much of a date. If they are serious about their marriage, they should experience the real world together, not just the small isolated space on wheels.

And, even more annoying, they are renewing their vows, but they never once discussed what that actually means. Will they move back in together? And, where will they live? What about the kids? Given the concern that Alicia usually has for their feelings, she should have talked to them about it. Alicia is acting out of fear for her feelings for Will, rather than from seeing a future for her and Peter. Just like the Lockhart/Gardner partners were missing the big picture by taking the quick fix approach to their problems ,the same is true of of Alicia and Peter.

Alicia's emotional turmoil will be compounded with the election, her decision regarding Peter, and then the forthcoming discussion with Will. There's no way that Will won't approach Alicia about his feelings now that he knows the truth about her's. It's sure to be a fun and emotional ride to the end of The Good Wife season 4.

Are you surprised Alicia agreed to renew her vows to Peter without much consideration about what that means? If she's given the choice to be in a committed relationship with Peter or Will, who should she chose? Are the Lockhart/Gardner partners destroying their own firm by looking out only for themselves?

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Elinore•April 23, 2013 15:31

I JUST WATCHED THE PROMO UNDER THE GOOD WIFE CBS AND THE KISS ENDS PERFECTLY, WHAT A LAUGH. Love Dianne ! If I were the one who said yes and pulled a question mark after the family knows I think I would leave town and never come back. Plus my fantasy would go down the drain and finally wake up.

Lanore•April 23, 2013 15:19

Hey Kimberly do you have a life or just sit in front of the TV all day or play on the computer ?

Bonnie•April 23, 2013 06:48

Am I the only one who thinks Alicia is in it for the power and position? She wants to be by Peters side as the wife of a politician. She gave up her dreams for his but perhaps his dreams really did become hers. Now she can have both.

Kimberly Hampton•April 23, 2013 01:50

It is always fascinating to me how two people can see the same thing and come out seeing it totally different. I saw Josh Charles on The Chew today and thought he was absolutely adorable; sweet, funny, and open. And I really like Chris Noth. Have since his Law & Order days. And loved him as Mr. Big.That doesn't affect how I see their characters on The Good Wife. I am Team Will because I think that Will and Alicia have a connection that Alicia doesn't have with Peter. I am Team Will because I think Alicia is freer and more open and more self assured with Will as opposed to when she's with Peter and she becomes this plastic political wife. I am Team Will because Peter's actions always have the tinge of manipulation. But I still like Chris Noth. And I still like Josh Charles. One has nothing to do with the other.

Lanore•April 23, 2013 00:25

I agree that Peter is hotter, Will is what real people say as a sneaky person. After watching last night episode I can't believe the writers can't do better using Alicia as an escape goat for the firm with Will shooting the cannon at her all the time, is this what she wants a person who uses her for personal gain. I hope they make the right choice ! I watched the CHEW show today Josh Charles was their guest, he has the same sneaky attitude in real life no wonder he's an ASS. PS Wait till Alicia finds out mom put her two cents in to Will, it will be the 4th of July early.

Goldie•April 22, 2013 22:45

First, I am definitely Team Peter. That being said, I believe that Alicia loves Peter, but that she is IN love with Will. I think that the promo for the finale is about Alicia and Will kissing each other goodbye. At least I hope so. I also think that she will leave Lockhart Gardner to start up with Cary which will keep a VERY interesting storyline going with her and Will. He'll be furious and then we have another whole season of them fighting each other. By the time this show ends completely, Alicia and Will will be together. I think that Peter has atoned for his sins but I don't get the sense that Will ever has. He's kind of weasely even if he is hot. I just think that Peter is hotter.

daphne•April 22, 2013 22:05

.. hope I'm not the only one who interpreted Peter's actions as manipulative! (because if I am, I have to admit I must be cynical and jaded..!) Peter hears the bad news about the straw polls.. he's down 2 points.then he is advised of the solution.. Alicia must speak out against his rival.he answers "correctly", "I can't ask for that" but.. what happens immediately ? he's on the phone to Alicia.with a plot that just happens to get him exactly what he needs--sweet bait being.. 1st date recreation, honeyed words, a ring, tempting Hawaiian getaway.. he 'handles' Owen expertly, too.. Peter is smooth. but I don't trust him. at all. I'm with Veronica ! all my wishful thinking is reserved for Will. but wow, do these t.v. shows, even the first-rate ones, DRAG it out. fun and annoying, in equal measure. thanks for all the entertainment, cast and crew!

I'm also really in love with the idea of Alicia leaving Lockhart/Gardner to go with Cary. It would make for some fun cases next year, though I don't know what would happen to all of the characters at Lockhart/Gardner... I'm sure they'd figure it out. I'd love to see Alicia and Kalinda go with Cary to the new firm.

Given what we've seen of Alicia and her kids, I'm hoping we see her talk to them about this next week. I'm also hoping she dumps Peter for Will but I sadly doubt that is going to happen... Though I could be pleasantly surprised there! I personally think she's only going for Peter now because of her feelings for Will. She's afraid to jump into anything with him, I just wish she wouldn't be :(

HGFM•April 22, 2013 18:57

"He asked her on a date and they have pizza in the bus? That's not really much of a date. If they are serious about their marriage, they should experience the real world together, not just the small isolated space on wheels." If you had been listening, Peter reenacted their first date which was a pizza and wine from a bottle. And he did it on the bus so they could have some privacy. If they were out in the real world, they would be besieged. It shows that he is interested in their relationship and not just showing off that she's still with him. "What about the kids? Given the concern that Alicia usually has for their feelings, she should have talked to them about it." No, Alicia should not talk to the kids until she has made her decision. It is about the rest of HER life and who she is going to spend it with.